Office Equipment, Printing and Supplies

Equipment, supplies or furniture: where to begin

This department splits into a few clear aisles. Printers, projectors, monitors and sales-counter hardware sit under printers, projectors and displays, and desks and seating under chairs, desks and furnishings. Stationery, mailing and warehouse supplies, office electronics and a refurbished aisle complete the department. The first decision is whether you need a machine, the consumables that feed it, or the furniture around it, because each is chosen on different grounds.

Ink, toner and filament: consumables decide compatibility

Whatever the machine, check what it consumes. Ink and toner are not interchangeable between inkjet and laser printers, and cartridges are matched to the printer's model, with colors sold singly, as cyan, magenta and yellow sets, or in multi-packs. 3D printers use spools of filament, and the diameter, usually 1.75 mm, must match the printer. PLA is the easy starting material, PETG is tougher, and ABS needs a heated, enclosed printer to print well.

Questions about Office Equipment, Printing and Supplies

How do I find the right cartridge for my printer?

Use the printer's exact model name and the number on the old cartridge or in the manual. Similar models can take different cartridges, and many have standard and high-yield versions with different codes, so match the full code, not just the series.

Does 3D printer filament diameter matter?

Yes. The extruder and hot end are built for one diameter, most often 1.75 mm, with 2.85 or 3 mm on some other machines. The wrong size will not feed correctly, so check the printer's specification before choosing a spool.

Laser or inkjet for an office?

Laser printers suit text-heavy, higher-volume work, and their toner does not dry out between uses. Inkjets suit color photos and light use. Compare the cost of each cartridge per page before you decide.